Honda is putting its most rugged SUV to the ultimate test. The all-new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport will compete in the legendary Alcan 5000 Rally, North America’s longest endurance time-speed-distance competition. Spanning nearly 6,000 miles of unforgiving terrain—including 900 miles of off-pavement routes—the event will push vehicles and drivers alike to their limits.

Running September 2–12, the 11-day rally kicks off in Kirkland, Washington, winds north through Canada’s Yukon Territory, stretches all the way to Fairbanks, Alaska, and finishes in British Columbia. The Passport TrailSport will take on every mile without modifications, proving its blend of off-road toughness and everyday drivability.

Honda Passport TrailSport: Built For The Toughest Trails

Honda calls the 2026 Passport TrailSport its most rugged SUV ever, and for good reason. It comes standard with General Grabber all-terrain tires, high-strength steel skid plates, a new off-road tuned suspension, and heavy-duty recovery points designed to handle twice the SUV’s weight. Power comes from a 285-horsepower 3.5-liter V6, paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and Honda’s advanced i-VTM4 torque-vectoring all-wheel drive system. A fully independent suspension with stronger forged steel arms and cast-iron knuckles adds durability, while seven available drive modes—including Sand, Snow, Sport, and Trail—give drivers confidence in any condition.

For this rally, the Passport remains mechanically stock, but Honda has outfitted it with a lineup of factory accessories to boost adventure capability. These include rock sliders, and aluminum front scuff plate, black accessory wheels with a full-size spare, a cargo roof platform, MOLLE boards, and a black hood decal. Lighting upgrades come from Baja Designs, with a prototype rally light bar mount developed by Rally Innovations for better visibility in harsh conditions.

A Proven Team Behind the Wheel

Behind the wheel will be rally veterans Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal, winners of the 2S class in the 2024 winter Alcan 5000 Rally. Both are no strangers to long-distance off-road challenges and believe the Passport TrailSport is the right tool for the job.

“Our confidence in the capability of the 2026 Passport TrailSport is bolstered by the fact that it has undergone the very highest level of off-road testing validation by Honda engineers on America’s most challenging trails,” said Mercedes Lilienthal.

“There are three things we want in the perfect Alcan rig: capability, comfort and power. The new 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport has all of them,” added Andy Lilienthal.

A Rally Like No Other

Unlike speed-focused competitions, the Alcan 5000 Rally is an accuracy-based time-speed-distance event. Competitors navigate using a paper route book, maintaining precise average speeds over public roads and trails—all while staying within posted limits. The teams with results closest to the rallymaster’s perfect times take home class or overall victories.

First run in 1984, the Alcan has become one of the most demanding events in motorsport, testing endurance, navigation, and vehicle toughness. For Honda, it’s the latest chapter in the Passport TrailSport’s growing motorsports resume, which already includes appearances in the Rebelle Rally and Mint 400.

Honda Passport TrailSport: The Right SUV At The Right Time

The launch of the 2026 Passport comes at a strong moment for Honda. Sales are up 27 percent this year, with the rugged TrailSport model accounting for nearly 80 percent of those sales. Positioned as the ultimate Honda adventure SUV, the Passport TrailSport blends rugged design, real off-road capability, and everyday versatility—qualities that will be tested like never before on the Alcan 5000.